Rosemica Calixte of Irvington and Marcus Walker of Newark display the commendations presented to them during the Freeholder Board’s Wednesday, November 2, 2011, meeting. (Photo by Glen Frieson)

(Newark, NJ) – The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored two 2011 graduates of the Essex County Vocational Schools during their Wednesday, November 2, 2011, meeting held at the Hall of Records. The students, Rosemica Calixte of Irvington, and Marcus Walker of Newark, were recognized for having been selected to receive 2011 Scholarship Program Awards from the NJAC Foundation (NJ Association of Counties), in conjunction with Verizon and Wells Fargo Bank, which are presented to recent graduates of county vocational/technical schools in all 21 counties who go on to further their education at a state college or university.

Rosemica and Marcus were presented with their Freeholder Board commendations by Freeholder President Blonnie R. Watson of Newark, and Freeholder Carol Y. Clark of East Orange, who has been the Board’s representative to the New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) since 2003, where she also served as the organization’s President in 2009.

Rosemica Calixte, a 2011 graduate of Essex County Vocational Schools’ North 13th Street School in Newark, was Essex County’s recipient of a $675 NJAC Foundation/Verizon scholarship. She is a freshman at Rutgers University – Newark, where she plans to major in Business. As a student at North 13th Street School, she was ranked #14 in her Senior Class and was a member of the National Honor Society, the Future Business Leaders of America and participated in cheerleading. She also received numerous awards in cosmetology competitions and is a licensed cosmetologist. Rosemica has also volunteered with the Children of Zion Fundraising Committee and as a tutor for young children with the Children of Zion Ministry in New York City. She also enjoys arts and crafts and gymnastics in her spare time.

Rosemica Calixte of Irvington (center) was joined by (from left to right) Essex County Administrator Ralph J. Ciallella, Freeholder Carol Y. Clark, Freeholder President Blonnie R. Watson, and John G. Donnadio, Executive Director of the NJAC Foundation. (Photo by Glen Frieson)

Marcus Walker is a 2011 graduate of Essex County Vocational Schools’ Newark Tech. He is Essex County’s recipient of a $450 NJAC Foundation/Wells Fargo Bank scholarship and a freshman at Union County College, where he is majoring in Sports Management and plans to go on to earn a degree from a 4-year college. Marcus was a member of the Newark Tech Varsity Basketball Team for four years where he was frequently named to the Honor Roll. In his spare time, he volunteers his time to help coach the boys’ basketball team at his old middle school, and mentors the young players so they may succeed as players and students in high school and college.

Marcus Walker (holding his commendation) shared a moment with (from left to right) Freeholder Carol Y. Clark, Freeholder President Blonnie R. Watson, and John G. Donnadio, Executive Director of the NJAC Foundation. (Photo by Glen Frieson)

John G. Donnadio, Executive Director of the NJAC Foundation, also participated in the ceremony be presenting Rosemica and Marcus with their scholarship checks. The NJAC Foundation is a non-profit organization affiliated with the New Jersey Association of Counties and is committed to providing innovative educational opportunities for county vocational schools and county college students.